Adjustable time interval control device



Jan. 25, 1949. P. o. GIBSON ADJUSTABLE TIME INTERVAL CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1a, 1945 in! llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll wm Q N M 3 n m V I Q Q m m w 4 NW 1949. P. o. GIBSON ,ADJUSTABLE TIME INTERVAL CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filefi Oct. 18 1945 INVENTOR PERT/0 6/550 flfl x Patented Jan. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE TIME INTERVAL CONTROL DEVICE Percy 0. Gibson, Kokomo, Ind.

Application October 18, 1945, Serial No. 623,139

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an adjustable timing device.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a timing device which can be set (within the range of same) and is repeatedly actuatable to control repetitiously an electric circuit for a predetermined selected interval within that range.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in providing a manually settable control for interval determination and associating same with a motive power source and an electric circuit to be controlled, whereby the latter is energized (or deenergized when desired by a reverse control) for the predetermined period only, the start of such period being determinable at will.

This invention is peculiarly applicable as a photographic timer, although not necessarily restricted thereto.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan view of the control and actuating face of the timer embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the same and is taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view with a portion of the casing removed to illustrate other parts more fully.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits employed.

In the drawings l indicates an enclosing sheet metal casing having its opposite edges confined within inwardly directed confronting peripheral flanges on front plate I l and back plate [2. Same are suitably secured as shown to the oppositely directed posts 13 carried by base plate l4, said base plate, front plate and back plate having the same configuration or outline. Herein the posts are illustrated as integral with the base plate.

Herein face plate ll mounts an on and off snap switch l5 and an indicator or pointer 16. Also reciprocable through said plate is rod [1 mounting on its exposed end the push button member l8.

A shaft 19, see Fig. 2, extends through said front plate and suitably secured thereto at 2|] is a dial Wheel 2| having finger engageable hub 22 and legendcd peripheral face 23, the legending being indicated in seconds. Obviously, when longer intervals are desired, the legending and 2 power train (to be described) modified to fulfill that object.

Suitably secured to the casing exposed end of shaft 29 is plate 24 with rearwardly directed angling arm 25 having the notch 23, see Fig. l, in the transverse portion 2'! thereof for forming an adjustable stop. Pin 23, power rotatable, normally bears against this stop, the position of which is angularly adjusted by setting dial 2|. Extendin from base plate 54 toward the front plate is stop 2s limiting power rotation of pin 28 to prevent cverrunning, although such stop may be omitted if desired.

A synchronous motor 3E} has pinion 3| driving gear 32 on shaft 33 carried by base plate 14 through which the shaft projects. This shaft is tubular as at 34 and slidably supports plunger rod 35 exposed at both ends.

Rotatably supported, as at 36, upon said shaft 33 is the collar or plate 3'? that carries pin 28. Adjacent said collar is a similar one 39, the two collars having engageable clutch faces 31a and 39a. A plate as is secured by means of adjusting screws 4! to collar 39 and overlies the forward end of rod 35 exposed by tubular shaft 33.

Tubular shaft 33 mounts stop 42 and interposed between same and collar 39 is spring 43. The other end of rod 35 is exposed rearwardly of base plate It and terminates in an end portion bearing on fiat spring member 4 1 to which reference will be had hereinafter. Whenever rod 35 is projected forwardly through spring 44, plate 40 is projected forwardly as well as collar 33 in opposition to spring 43 tending to effect clutching between faces 31a and 3911. Therefore, it is unnecessary to have the motor 38 start from any predetermined position.

Thus, if the motor is energized simultaneously with clutching incident to red 35 moving rearwardly, the motor will instantly cause pin 28 to rotate from zero time and continue rotation for the desired interval.

There is provided a trip having a fixed position as it were the same is engaged by pin 28 for energy cutoff and motor stoppage, etc. Hence, rotation of dial 2| determines the position of stop .28 relative to the trip, and pin 28 is motor moved at motor energization from that selected adjusted starting position to the single trip position. If desired, a light coil spring 45 may return clutch collar 31 and pin 28 to stop 21 when the trip has been pin actuated.

Plate I4 is apertured at 46 and 41. Rod I! having offset portion Ila, see Fig. 2, extends through slot 41. On opposite sides of slot 43 and will be suitably 3 upon the rear face of plate 44 are the bosses it and rotatably supported thereby is rock shaft 4t. Rock shaft #9 has pinned to it a trip arm i? that projects into the path of pin 28 and is rocked clockwise, see Fig. 3, thereby.

This trip is pivotally connected at 51 to U- shaped link 52 pivoted at 53 to arm 5% pivoted at 55 in rearwardly directed elongated boss 56 on plate It. A spring 5'! normally constrains the arm 5 toward rearward position.

Also carried by the rock shaft 42 is an arm and to the same is pivotally connected the rearward end of rod ii at 58c. When the button it is depressed, see Fig. 3, arm 53 is rotated counterclockwise and so is shaft 49 and trip 59. Thus trip 5!} is projected upwardly and forwardly of plate hi through aperture '36 for pin 23 engagemer t. The linkage is such that an over-center toggle-like action results whereby the trip is retained in projected position and rod ii is retained in the depressed position. When the trip is tilted, this over-center action is reversed and spring 5.! becomes effective to further and quickly retract trip 58 and project rod i'i.

' Reference will now be had. to plunger and member 56. The two are constantly engaged and the latter comprises a leaf spring suitably carried by the rear face of base i i. Shaft 69 aforesaid, see Fig. 2, terminates adjacent this engagement and has a flatted face tea. is rocked by rod ii, the flat face ide is exposed to spring it so that plunger .35 may move rearwardly. .When the arcuate portion is presented by trip release, plunger rod 35 moves toward the front.

Carried by the front plate ii is snap switch it. Carried by the base plate ii is female plug socket 6i and casing I Q is apertured at $2 to expose same for connection to an electrically operable device-such as a photo-printing lamp or other device not shown, the duration of operation of which is to be controlled.

Also carried by plate i l and on the forward face thereof and in insulated relation thereto as at 63 is a current conducting spring finger Gil with special contact 65. Adjacent thereto in insulated relation as at as is current conductor 6l'with special contact 58 juxtapositioned to contact 65.

Finger fit herein is extended and its free end bears on insulation cap 59 carried by cup 79 on stem 1! slidable through plate l tand having its free rearward end 'lla juxtapositioned to the free end of arm 58.

When'rod it is out or up, cap 69 is held in forward or up position, and there is an opencircuit between contacts and 68. When, however, the rod I? is pushed rearwardly, arm 58 tilts counterclockwise and'the spring force in finger 64 forces the cap rearward, since arm 58 is no longer in the way.

This action is such in extent that the cap 59 appreciably clears the end of the finger E l when the contacts 65 and 58 are engaged.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 4 wherein the control and power circuit is illustrated, and similar numerals indicate similar parts. A conventional terminal plug P has prongs PI and P2 and line 13 from prong Pl leads to one terminal in female socket es. Another line .14 leads from prong P2 to spring finger 64. A line 61-16 leads When the shaft 4 from contact 68 to. the other terminal IT in the female socket 6 I.

Obviously, when switch 65-68 is closed, current is supplied to socket 6!. A line 18 shunts this switch but has included therein snap switch l5. By this switch the operativeness of the load associated with socket 6| and to be controlled by the device can be ascertained without imposing the time control feature thereon.

If the load be a photo-printing device, the light can be kept lit by switch i 5 for negative positioning, etc. and other adjustments of parts, etc.

In shunt with load outlet 6| by lines and 8|, but protected by switch 65-68, is, motor 30. Whenever the load socket is live by reason of switch 6-5-66, the motor 30 will be energized. When switch 65-68 is open, motor 39 will not be energized.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest them selves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered tobe within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is: a

l. A. variable interval control device including in combination a motor, a clutch, an actuator clutch connected to the motor and rotatable thereby, switch means for motor control, means simultaneously effecting clutch operation and switch means operation and operable by the actuator at the expiration of a predetermined interval for motor stoppage and clutch-disconnection, a manual initiator for actuating the said simultaneous means, the latter including an over-center holding arrangement, and spring means normally constraining the said simultaneous means to non-clutching and open switch position.

2. A variable interval control device including in combination a motor, a clutch, an actuator clutch connected to the motor and rotatable thereby, switch means for motor control, means simultaneously effecting clutch operation and switch means operation and operable by the actuator at the expiration of a predetermined interval for motor stoppage and clutch disconnection, a manual initiator for actuating the said simultaneous means, the latter including an over-center holding arrangement, and spring means normally constraining thesaidsimultaneous means to non-clutching and open switch position, and return of the manual initiator to,

non-initiating position.

PERCY O. GIBSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS record in the 

